One great movie that discusses the hardships of disabilities is "Forrest Gump". As the title states itself, Forrest is the main character of this story. Throughout his childhood, he's had to deal with many bullies that made fun of him because of his leg deformity, having to wear leg braces. Ironically enough, though he has trouble getting around with his leg braces, while he's running from a group of bullies one day, he brakes loose from the braces and amazes those around him that notice just how fast he can run. Later on, his great ability to run really fast, even though it still takes time to get used to controlling his speed and knowing when to stop, has him get accepted to college on a football scholarship. Throughout the movie, it shows these outstanding experiences that Forrest has had, that one without a disability would most likely not even begin to think a person with one could do. A couple more examples are him joining the army and rescuing many of the soldiers, his long run across the country for about 4 years which made him famous, and much more.
Many other movies have brought attention to the life of people with disabilities, which has been very beneficial since we get more of a sympathetic view for them, such as "Daredevil", "Xmen",and many more. Even though movies such as "Children Of A Lesser God" haven't greatly brought out the "silent world" of deaf people, (since the sign language throughout the movie was not translated in subtitles and only through one of the main characters without the disability) it still possitively brings out the message of the difficulties that deaf people have through communication. It is important that we understand the hardships that people with disabilities have to go through, so that as a nation, we can all communicate and better understand eachothers views and lifestyles, and accept them for who they are.
site for picture: http://students.cup.edu/Gil8867/aboutme.htm
site used for more backup info on "Forrest Gump": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_gump
site used for the opinions of the movie "Children Of A Lesser God": http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19861003/REVIEWS/610030301/1023
You make some good points here about how film has evolved in its depiction of people with disabilities. I agree that we have come a long way. I'd like to see a little more depth of analysis here. For example, you could have used the medical and social models to analyze which one these newer, more positive films come from, and what they could do even better. Or you could have compared these recent images with some of the older, more stereotypical images from film history.
ReplyDeleteForest Gump is one of my favorite movies. I love it. One thing I do seem to have a problem with is the fact that he was so successful in the movie. Like when he joined the military and got awards, met the president, was famous for his ping pong championships, and of course his shrimping business made him a lot of money. Jenny, his childhood friend and later lover, and mother of his child until her death, gave him a chance. After her death, he was able to keep his child. I just think that it is to much of a feel good, he does have struggles in the film don’t get me wrong, however if you look at movies like “I am Sam” where he looses his daughter after she becomes “smarter” than him, I just don’t think that it is so easy for them as the movie seemed to me. He became successful, but I don’t think that is an accurate impression for persons with disabilities. I’m not saying they cant be successful, I in no way doubt the fact that they can be, because they definitely can, I am just saying I don’t think they are given the privileges they deserve to be able to succeed. I am sure there are cases out there to prove me wrong. I agree that he had an amazing story to tell, I take many lines from that movie to heart. I know that might sound weird but I do, and many people who may have not even seen the movie have heard lines from it. My favorite is “life’s like a box of chocolate, you never know what your gonna get”. it just shows that we should give everyone a fair chance because you never know what their knowledge and experiences can teach us. I loved how you gave examples of other movies and tied them into your blog, and I agree with you and Rachel that we have come a long way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley in that people with disabilities are not given the opportunities they deserve so them becoming more successful is harder and more unrealistic in todays society because they don't get the benefit of the doubt. I was also going to talk about I am Sam. This movie made me cry so hard, because of how unfairly Sam is treated because he is mentally disabled and therefore seen as unfit to care for his daughter. He isn't even given the chance to prove how great of a father is before his daughter is taken away.
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